The Plymouth City Council members considered a proposal to amend the zoning ordinance to make sure the city is prepared to be solar-ready.
Plymouth Plan Director Ralph Booker said the Plymouth Planning Commission recommended the amendment to include several provisions.
“When you put in a solar apparatus that it doesn’t exceed or does not aggravate or increase the lot coverage especially if underneath vegetative cover,” explained Booker.
He added that a lot of the city is in the historic overlay which has its own provisions.
“Any solar array would not be visible from the street. It could be visible from the alley, but not visible from the street. If this were to pass, an applicant could go to the Board of Zoning Appeals and ask for a variance if they wanted to, but this is to keep that viewscape along the street the same as it is now.”
Other language includes emergency personnel access, while rooftop and small ground-mounted solar array systems installations are permitted in all zoning districts. Additional wording pertains to permitted ground-mounted solar systems as an accessory structure or primary use, and clarifications.
Medium and large ground solar arrays will require a special use.
Solar arrays will not be permitted in parks and open spaces.
The city council unanimously approved the amendment with a clarification of one sentence.
City Attorney Sean Surrisi reminded the council members that a public meeting is set to learn more about solar arrays and their benefits. That meeting is Tuesday, July 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the second floor meeting room in the Marshall County Building at 112 W. Jefferson Street in Plymouth.
